Florida State (9-12, 2-6) played host to the Stanford Cardinals (14-7, 3-5) in Tallahassee on Saturday, looking to string together its first win streak in ACC play under Luke Loucks.
The two teams went back and forth early in the first period, with FSU eventually pulling away to build an eight-point halftime lead. FSU then dominated for much of the second, leading by as much as 19 en route to an 88-80 victory, beating Stanford for the first time ever.
First Half
Florida State guard Lajae Jones took the opening
tip straight to the rim for an emphatic dunk to open the game. The Seminoles and Cardinals traded baskets in the early minutes, with Robert McCray V accounting for five of Florida State’s first nine points and Jermey Dent-Smith scoring five of Stanford’s first 11.
The two ACC opponents went back and forth throughout an evenly played first half. Stanford held the edge from beyond the arc, shooting 38% compared to Florida State’s 25%. Both teams leaned heavily on the 3-point shot early, as seven of Stanford’s first 13 field-goal attempts and seven of Florida State’s first 14 came from deep. The Cardinals also controlled the glass, outrebounding the Seminoles 17-13, including a 7-4 advantage on the offensive boards.
Chauncey Wiggins checked back in midway through the half and immediately sparked Florida State, scoring a bucket with 9:03 remaining. Jones followed with another dunk on the next possession, tying the game at 24-24 with 7:53 to play. Kobe Magee then knocked down a key 3-pointer at the 6:46 mark to give the Seminoles a four-point lead. Moments later, Jones converted his second and-one of the game as part of a 13-2 Florida State run.
The Seminoles made their biggest impact on the defensive end, forcing eight turnovers and converting them into 12 points. Stanford managed just three takeaways and failed to score off them. Those turnovers, combined with Florida State’s success finishing through contact, helped the Seminoles take a 41-33 lead into halftime.
Jones led all scorers at the break with 13 points, while Stanford guard Benny Gealer paced the Cardinals with six.
Second Half
Florida State opened the second half with an eight-point lead and steadily extended it over the final 20 minutes. The Seminoles’ offense found a rhythm, as Chauncey Wiggins, Jones, McCray V and Alex Steen moved the ball effectively to create high-percentage looks. Defensively, Florida State continued to disrupt Stanford’s game plan, forcing turnover after turnover.
Defensive pressure defined the second half for the Seminoles. Stanford’s offense eventually funneled almost exclusively through Ebuka Okorie, who kept the Cardinals within striking distance but could not consistently counter Florida State’s balanced attack. Stanford struggled with defensive communication, particularly in the passing lanes, allowing the Seminoles to capitalize on cuts to the basket. McCray V served as the primary creator, while Steen anchored the offense inside. Jones, Steen and McCray V all reached double figures with eight minutes remaining.
After scraping by in recent games with wins in the 60s, Florida State’s offensive showing was an encouraging one, powering the Seminoles to their third ACC victory of the season, an 88-80 win.
Player of the Game
The player of the game in this one was a tough call. All three of Lajae Jones, Chauncey Wiggins, and Robert McCray V gave a ton of spark to this Florida State squad tonight, making their impact felt in big ways, but I’m going to give the nod to Robert McCray V who finished this one with 20 points, 4 rebounds, and 7 assists. He also contributed on the defensive end with 2 steals. He shot an ultra-efficient 6 of 7 from the field and was 1 of 1 on three pointers. The offense ran through McCray V tonight, and the result of that was an overall efficient performance on all levels.
What’s Next?
The Seminoles improve their overall record to 10-12, and 3-6 in ACC play. Florida State will travel to South Bend, Indiana on Saturday, February 7th where they will face off with the Irish of Notre Dame. This game will begin at 4:00 p.m. ET. and will be aired on ACC Network.
